Howard Clinkscales is a fictional character in the Honorverse, a series of military science fiction novels written by David Weber.
His full name was Howard Samson Jonathan Clinkscales. During his lifetime he served three Protectors, Benjamin IX being the last of these three. Prior to the Mayhew Restoration he was in command of Palace Security at the Protector's Palace. Later, after Protector Benjamin Mayhew IX ascended to the Protectorship, he served as the minister of security.
Although initially he was strongly against women having any role other than mother and wife or maid in Grayson society, his attitudes changed after the Maccabeus assassination attempt. He served as Honor Harrington's first regent, and came to regard her as a daughter. It was on those grounds that he refused the Steadholdership after Harrington was believed dead at the hands of the People's Republic of Haven.
As is the Grayson custom, Howard married multiple wives, called Bethany, Rebecca, and Constance. He had seven children, Howard, Jessica, Marjorie, John, Angela, Barbara, and Marian, and also stood as a father-figure to his nephew, Carson, whose father (Howard's brother) died when Carson was eight years old. He was also uncle of Austin Clinkscales, whom he trained to succeed him as Harrington's regent. Carson and Austin are cousins rather than brothers; Austin is about twenty years Carson's senior.
At the age of ninety-two, Howard Clinkscales slipped into a coma following a stroke, and died three days later. His remains were divided and rest in both the Clinkscales Garden of Memory and Harrington Garden of Memory.